WE HAVE BOARDED THE AZAMARA JOURNEY, AND ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE COMING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

There is not much military activity diirectly related to the War with Iran today, but:

• Iran insists that the U.S. agrees to all concessions before opening the Strait of Hormuz.
• No serious peace talks are occurring.
• The Houthis continue to cause problems with Saudi Arabia.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally rejected the U.S. proposal for the Gaza Strip.

In other news:

• Todd Blanche was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as U.S. attorney general.
• Typhoon Dolphin made landfall over Okinawa at 101 MPH, causing damage, but, at this time, no known deaths.  Next, on to Zhejiang. While not threatening Hong Kong, this storm was deemed responsible for the record high temperature today of just about 98.5 F.

• 
  As we are expecting to stop through Vancouver after our cruise ship docks in Montreal, I asked Google AI whether the latest British Columbia wild fire is also impacting this city:

Yes, there are some active wildfires and smoke in British Columbia, including a small local fire in Metro Vancouver's Belcarra Regional Park, but most large out-of-control blazes are further away in the southern interior and other parts of the province. 

So on to our solar adventure.  The 5-minute taxi ride from hotel to the Azamara Journey, as arranged for by the Hilton, was troublesome.  Bill of $40.  Recall that the fare from the airport must have been around $250.  Here is a facebook entry complaining about this problem. Not coming back to Iceland again.

All the info Azamara sent us indicated that we could check in at noon.  We got there at 12:30 and there was a long line because the door into the facility had just opened.  Was unprepared for gusty winds and 50 F temperature.  Kind of a poor start to our cruise.

The Journey was launched in 2000 and has had a checkered ownership.

• First owner , Pullmanteur Cruises, went bankrupt.
• Royal Caribbean and Oceania somehow became involved.
• Renamed the Journey in 2008.
• Now owned by an equity firm that lists a whole bunch of companies in the corporation, including Margaritaville at Sea and Walgreens.
• 694 passengers and 407 crew.
• The relatively small size allows it to sail up the Chao Phraya River all the way to Bangkok.  Almost all cruise ships need to be docked at Laem Chabang port, which is 36 miles away.

Bad omen?  Looming disaster to come?  Nah, for we had a decent lunch, and all our luggage was succesfully transferred to our cabin, which is decent.  Some photos.

Got a lot electronics with us.

A big positive is that on almost all the cruises I've been on, internet connection was a pain, requiring info tech staff assistance.  My computer linked flawlessly in seconds.  All by myself.  But this internet service will cost us more than $500, mostly to send out this blog.  I'll continue reporting on our 18-day cruise tomorrow.

I'll close with some introductory remarks for new viewers.  Readership of this blog site goes up when I'm traveling.  Three days ago, broke an all-time record by reaching 241,179 viewers that day.  Generally, this viral peak drops considerably over the next few days.  However, during this period, many new to this site don't know much about what this blog is all about, or me.

Began at the end of April of 2008, and has been posted daily, with a few exceptions, when in China, and on train trips in Canada.

• There are two sites.
• The original, which has more than 6200 postings.
• A newer version, which started in October of 2020.  Why this second one?  I ran out of labels in the original, so just in parallel began publishing #2 to better link with the world wide web.
• They are identical.

• 
  About me, the blogger.  I, Patrick Takahashi:
• Was born and grew up in Honolulu, mostly Kakaako, very much the seed around which Honolulu eventually grew.
• I suffer from magnificent obsessions, which led to my matriculation at Stanford, U.S. Senate staffer responsible for the Matsunaga Hydrogen Act, and through my academic career, worked on laser fusion at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence for the NASA Ames Research Center.  27-year career at the University of Hawaii, where I directed the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, which became the national lead for the National Science Foundation in marine bioproducts, U.S. Department of Energy on hydrogen and U.S. Interior Department on marine minerals.
• 
  Now in my 27th year of retirement, during which time I wrote Simple Solutions books on Planet Earth and Humanity, plus Simple Solution Essays, a compilation of some my articles in the Huffington Post.  Here are some of my more relevant illusions.

• 

• Geoengineering of Climate Change
• What About Hydrogen?
• Why Do We Spend So Much on National Security?
• The Dawn of the Blue Revolution
• The Ultimate Ocean Ranch
• Is There An Option More Promising Than The Plug-In Electric Vehicle?
• America, Don't Copy...Build Something Better
• The Blue Revolution
• Extraterrestrial Intelligence?
• What Is The Best Biofuel?
• The Carbon Dioxide Credit Program?
• The Future of Sustainable Aviation
• The 10% Solution to Peace
• The Sustainable Expo for 2020
• The Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami:  The Aftermath
• Star Power for Humanity

I should add that I've made more than a dozen global odysseys, and you can read how those two-month trips went by reading past postings.  How to find them?  Explore.  For example, I typed into the SEARCH Box Ultimate Global Adventure, and found:  AROUND THE WORLD IN 51 DAYS.  This is a trip I took in 2013.  I specialize in these, and in 2015 compared the best ones, by others.  This graphic is of the first one.

So tomorrow, the first full day on our Azamara Journey.

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FINAL DAY IN REYKJAVIK AND ON TO THE AZAMARA JOURNEY

Never gets fully dark at night in Reykjavik in early August.

• 16-hours of daylight.
• Sun sets at 10:30PM or so
• Sung rises at 4:30AM or so.
• Daily highs around 55 F, with lows in the mid-40s.
• According to Google AI:

Reykjavík is widely recognized as one of the safest capitals in the world. It frequently tops global safety rankings, such as the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection report, which has named Reykjavík the world's safest city. Violent crime is exceedingly rare, and the city boasts a high level of social trust, low property crime, and a relaxed community atmosphere compared to most major global capitals. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

• 
  However:

Traditional outright taxi scams are not common in Reykjavík, but recent changes to Iceland's taxi laws have led to a rise in complaints regarding inflated fares, unmetered overcharging, and opportunistic drivers targeting tourists—especially for airport or late-night trips. [1, 2, 3]

• Our tour guide warned us to be careful about pickpockets.

While Iceland remains one of the safest countries in the world, the ⁠U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik and local authorities have issued alerts regarding organized criminal rings explicitly targeting crowded tourist areas. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Haven't said much about the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica.

• As the total eclipse date of August 12 approaches, hotels in Reykjavik have more than doubled in price.  In addition, I signed up for an Executive room to have access to their executive club, which then comes with free breakfast and cocktails/appetizers from 5PM-7PM.  Thus, this is a costly three-night stay.
• The free buffet breakfast is nothing like what they have in the Orient, but is better than hotel clubs in the USA, Canada and Europe.
• 
  The executive club serves adequate appetizers and drinks.
• However, Johnny Walker Red Label Whiskey is an indicator of the lower quality.
• But a nice two-hour period to unwind.  They serve a good soup with assorted sandwiches, and other appetizers.  Real fusion sushi, egg rolls and the like.  Then a dessert tray at the end.  Second night.

• Third night.
• Appetizers.
  
  

Cauliflower cream soup. Not bad, but not as good as the previous night soups, tomato and potato.

Meal and view

Geo-heath site.  All these buildings are heated by geo-steam.

Noticed that bikes were not that common.  Hopp aqua-colored rental scooters are prominent.

Also, personal scooters.  They look like they're moving faster, but it turns out that the maximum legal speed for both is 15.5 miles per hour, but Hopp limits speeds to 9 MPH in certain urban areas, like here.  They cost about a dollar to unlock, plus 36 cents/minute.  So a 10-minute ride would cost $4.53.

While I was watching all this scooter stuff, noticed that we could see a Celebrity Cruise Line ship docked in one of the closer piers.  To the right in the background,

Then we saw a Viking ship departing on their total eclipse cruise.

Of course, we kept our eye on the American Embassy to help protect it from invasion.

We realize that this is one of the safest American Embassies in the world.  However, if we sit here three hours during cocktail time, we want to be responsible, so have amused ourselves by looking for intrigue.

Noticed too, that cities and places have really long names.  Even longer and more difficult to pronounce than Hawaiian locations that baffle tourists.  For example, from where we sit.

For the record, Fjarskiptastofa is the Electronic Communications Office of Iceland.  Other examples from Google AI:

Kirkjubæjarklaustur: A well-known historic village in southern Iceland whose name means "Church farm cloister" (19 letters).  There are also some short ones, like Vik.
Landmannalaugar: A famous mountainous highland area meaning "The people of the land's pools" (15 letters).
Hvannadalshnjúkur: The highest peak in the country, meaning "Angelica valley peak" (17 letters). [1, 2, 3]

Long Street and Road Names

Jófríðarstaðavegur: A long residential and arterial road located in Hafnarfjörður (19 letters).
Bræðraborgarstígur: A historic street in downtown Reykjavík meaning "Brothers' castle path" (18 letters).
Vatnsleysustrandarvegur: A rural coastal highway in the southwestern Reykjanes region (23 letters). [1, 2]

We soon taxi to the Azamara Journey, awaiting our arrival at the Skarfabakki Harbour.

The Puffin is the unofficial mascot of Iceland.

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OUR TOUR OF ICELAND

We took the Golden Circle South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik.  Cost:  $135/person.

Seeing Iceland’s south coast in a single day can feel rushed or impersonal on large coach tours, but this small-group experience offers a more comfortable and flexible way to explore. Travel from Reykjavik in a luxury minibus through volcanic landscapes, stopping at highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the black-sand beach of Reynisfjara, and the Solheimajökull glacier.

• Check off multiple attractions of Iceland's coast in just one trip
• Pickup and drop-off included from central Reykjavik for ease
• With a capped group size, enjoy better access to viewpoints.
• Onboard Wi-Fi keeps you connected throughout the day.

South Coast Itinerary Map & Route

The South Coast route runs east-southeast along Route 1 (Ring Road) toward Vík:

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall: Walk entirely behind the cascading sheet of water.
Skógafoss Waterfall: Climb the high staircase for panoramic coastal views.
Sólheimajökull Glacier (Optional): Catch views of the retreating glacial tongue.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: See the dramatic basalt columns and roaring Atlantic waves. [1]

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

High-end transport is a key perk of this tour; travel by luxury Mercedes minibus.

Read more about - Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

I provide all the above information because the reality was something else.  Here is what really happened:

• From 7:30AM when we were picked up at the Hilton until we were dropped off at around 3PM, it rained.  Sometimes very hard,.  Never stopped at all, although there were moments of mere drizzle

• 
  Our tour was mostly riding around.

• The first hour was just getting to our initial visit site.
• Nothing much to see outside as the scenery was ground covered with some growth, in the rain and fog.  A few horses, sheep and cattle.  No towns or villages.  Just volcanic desolation, and subsequent growth of moss.
• Being from Hawaii, we are familiar with the volcanic-related stops, so nothing was new.
• The temperature was in the low 50's.  Not bad, actually, for this is August.  But the relative cold plus rain made it difficult for me to do much outside the mini-bus.
• Initial words from Gunnar, our driver and tour guide:

• Lunch of fish soup and beer at our long Geysirs stop.   Cost around $35!!!

• Video of our short walk at the Geysirs.  They spell it differently.

Our final attraction was Kerid Crater.

• 
  There was no stop in Reykjavik except to our hotel.  We thus are thinking about paying $47/person later today for the Hop On / Hop Off bus that stops right next to our hotel.   There are 16 stops.  We would take a first 90 minute ride for the entire cycle, then stop a couple of places.  If we do, I'll report about this adventure tomorrow. 

Stop 1: Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre

Stop 2: The Old Harbour

Stop 3: Reykjavik Maritime Museum

Stop 4: Whales of Iceland

Stop 5: National Museum of Iceland

Stop 6: Lækjargata (Central downtown)

Stop 7: Laugavegur Shopping Street

Stop 8: Reykjavik Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaðir

Stop 9: Hallgrímskirkja Church

Stop 10: BSÍ Bus Terminal

Stop 11: Perlan Museum

Stop 12: Kringlan Shopping Centre

Stop 13: Hilton Reykjavík Nordica

Stop 14: Laugardalur Valley (Family Park and Zoo)

Stop 15: Skarfabakki Cruise Ship Terminal (Summer only)

Stop 16: Höfði House [1]

Well, that was not much.  For those who need to know more, here is a video of the 12 BEST things to do in Rekjavik Iceland.  Just in case we never take the Hop On / Hop Off bust tour.  

Or, this is a video of what our tour could have been with sunshine, eruptions (right), geysers, icy conditions and the like,  None of this appeared on our 6.5 hours mostly in the mini-bus experience.  Maybe we're spoiled, but episode 53 of Kilauea on the Big Island is expected to occur around now.  Here is a photo below from episode 52.

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